IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,789,016
Granted Patent B2
US 7,789,016 · App. 11/464,336 · Granted Sep 7, 2010

Device for separating banana pulp from the peel

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,789,016
App. No.
11/464,336
Granted
Sep 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device which separates banana pulp from its peel, suitable for large-scale processing, is disclosed. The device consists of upper and lower conveyor belts, a roller installed above the upper belt, and a pressure generating element (e.g., a roller or a plate) installed below the lower belt. The belts are installed so as to converge in the direction of their movement. The axes of the roller(s) is oriented between the longitudinal direction of the lower belt and its transverse direction.

Claims (10)

1. A device for separation of banana pulp from banana peel comprising upper and lower conveyer belts, each belt having an upper and lower surface, and two rollers, one roller installed under the lower conveyer belt, the other roller installed above the upper conveyer belt, and each roller having a surface, such that:

a. the rollers are installed one forward of the other based on the direction of the conveyer belt's movement, so it is possible for the surface of each roller to interact with the corresponding surface of the corresponding belt, so as to press the bananas between the upper and lower belts;

b. the two conveyer belts are installed to converge as they move in the direction towards the rollers, where the convergence of conveyer belts is at an angle between about 30° to about 80°; and

c. the axes of the rollers are oriented in a direction that remains between the longitudinal direction of the lower conveyer belt and its transverse direction, where the angle at which the roller axes are oriented is between about 30° and about 60° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lower conveyer belt.

2. A device for separation of banana pulp from banana peel, including lower and upper conveyer belts, each belt having a lower surface and an upper surface, a plate positioned under the lower surface of the lower conveyer belt, and a roller installed above the upper surface of the upper conveyer belt, said roller having a surface, such that:

a. the plate and the roller are positioned one forward of the other based on the direction of the movement of the conveyer belt;

b. the roller is positioned such that its surface interacts with the surface of the upper belt;

c. the plate is positioned such that its surface interacts with the surface of the lower belt, so as to press the bananas between the upper and lower belts;

d. the conveyer belts are arranged to converge as they move in the direction towards the roller where the convergence of conveyer belts occurs at angle between about 30° to about 60° ; and

e. the roller's axis is oriented in a direction that remains between the longitudinal direction of the lower conveyer belt and its transverse direction where the conveyer belts are mutually horizontally oriented at an angle between about 30° and about 60° .

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATED; TRANSFRESH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052519/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2016
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; CHIQUITA FRESH NORTH AMERICA L.L.C.; FRESH INTERNATIONAL CORP.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATED; TRANSFRESH CORPORATION; B C SYSTEMS, INC.; VERDELLI FARMS INC.; CB CONTAINERS, INC.; V.F. TRANSPORTATION, L.L.C.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039389/0596 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 035105/0335 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 035026/0370 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 22, 2013
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; CHIQUITA FRESH NORTH AMERICA L.L.C.; FRESH INTERNATIONAL CORP.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATION; TRANSFRESH CORPORATION; B C SYSTEMS, INC.; VERDELLI FARMS INC.; CB CONTAINERS, INC.; V.F. TRANSPORTATION, L.L.C.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029854/0576 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2013
From: COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN - BOERENLEENBANK B.A., RABOBANK NEDERLAND, NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATED; FRESH INTERNATIONAL CORP.; TRANSFRESH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029761/0848 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2013
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 029759/0655 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 29, 2013
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS, INC.
To: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 029717/0607 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 7, 2008
From: CHIQUITA BRANDS L.L.C.; FRESH EXPRESS INCORPORATED; FRESH INTERNATIONAL CORP.; TRANSFRESH CORPORATION
To: COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN - BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 020762/0424 →